Confluence Preserve

The Confluence Preserve consists of 144 acres of agricultural and forested land strategically located at the confluence of Big Darby Creek and the Scioto River in Pickaway County. The property features 3,800 lineal feet of forested riparian corridor along the Big Darby and 2,750 feet along the Scioto River.  The property also includes 1,900 linear feet of old river oxbow that has transitioned into a linear wetland. 

About 100 acres of the property is relatively mature forest which provides habitat for local bat populations.  The forested area includes large diameter cottonwoods, sugar maples and sycamore.

The Confluence property also serves as an important part of the Scioto River Flyway Corridor.   Thousands of waterfowl, songbirds and bats and other migrating species typically use this flyway corridor during the early spring and fall migration periods.   The Confluence Preserve serves as a resting place for large numbers of migrating waterfowl. 

AOA stewardship crews are actively removing and treating invasive plants on this property. These plants included multiflora rose, tree of heaven and Japanese honeysuckle which were cut and sprayed in the year 2025.

The Confluence and the Carter Properties which total 280 acres are part of AOA’s Big Darby Creek Conservation Initiative.  This land acquisition was funded by the Ohio EPA Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program as part of the City of Columbus, Lower Olentangy Tunnel WPCLF loan.  The acquisition is described in more detail in the following article.